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He added that Urban Splash had a track record of redeveloping difficult buildings – several of which many people wanted demolished, as in the case of the Civic Centre.

The chairman was talking at Royal William Yard, the Navy’s former long-neglected victualing yard, which Urban Splash redeveloped. It has a 90 per cent occupancy rate and was buzzing with visitors on a Saturday morning.

Mr Bloxham said that the company had breathed new life into the old Ford Dunlop factory in Birmingham and former flats at Park Hill in Sheffield.

He said: “The Civic Centre has been unloved and is in need of tender loving care. It is need of a big idea. We want to put it back at the heart of Plymouth with a mix of interesting uses. Watch this space.”

Plymouth City Council, which will have to approve any plan, has drawn up a blueprint for its former headquarters.

The Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan, adopted in March, envisages 250 new homes and a hotel.

Urban Splash will come up with the plans but the council’s blueprint will have a strong influence on its consideration.

But the plan also says: “New uses which will be acceptable include residential, offices, hotel, restaurants, bars, leisure and cultural uses.”

Mr Bloxham said: “Our aspiration is very much to have it accessible to the public. Plymouth is actually very lucky to have this great 20th century heritage and the Civic Centre is in my view one of the best buildings in Plymouth.

“Plymouth should be celebrating rather than turning its back on its modern heritage."

The 144,000 sq ft office building was opened by the Queen in 1962, and marked the end of the city’s resurrection from the Blitz.

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But its ageing interior and problems with some of the concrete exterior led the city council to consider demolishing its main offices by 2007.

English Heritage then listed the building as of Grade II significance. It has been empty since 2015.

Mr Bloxham said that behind the scenes the fabric of the building was being preserved.

Dartington-based Gillespie Yunnie Architects were appointed last year to work on as yet unseen designs. Property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) was also appointed to manage the 14-storey building in 2016.

Campaign group The Twentieth Century Society, which was responsible for getting the building listed a decade ago, said in January that it could place the Civic Centre on its “at risk” list.

(Image: John Allen)

The conservation group’s director said it would be a “strong contender” for the at-risk list unless progress on a “suitable scheme” was made in 2017.

A source told the Herald only in June that work on the Civic Centre had run into “viability issues”.

Mr Bloxham accepted that it was frustrating for people in the city to have to wait two years to find out what was happening with such a landmark building – one which Urban Splash bought for just £1.

He said: “The reason that nothing has happened is that it is a very difficult building. We like to consider very carefully how we deal with these problems. We are involved in several negotiations and when we are ready we will tell everyone.”

(Image: Steven Haywood)

Urban Splash posted profits of £12.2 million in July. It was £5 million less than the previous period but still represents a continued turnaround from heavy losses of about four years ago.

Mr Bloxham brought about 60 staff from Manchester to Plymouth for an away-day at the Royal William Yard.

The yard is now home to nine restaurants, with plans for more, homes, offices and a studio.

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Urban Splash recently announced that the Melville Building will be converted to a hotel, shops, restaurants and cafe, office, residential and non-residential institutions, assembly and leisure, with courtyard events space.

Bistro Pierre, which already has a restaurant in the yard, is to take over Residence One and open a boutique hotel. Cornwall’s Watergate Bay Hotel had been interested in the site.

Star name River Cottage suddenly pulled its restaurant from the Royal William Yard in May and there has still been no news of a replacement.

Mr Bloxham said: “We enjoyed working with River Cottage and were we disappointed when they pulled out. It is all part of the churn you get in this business.

“The site was not as well used as perhaps it could have been. There are lots of restaurants which are working.”

He said Urban Splash was particularly looking for independent retailers to open shops at the yard.

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Mr Bloxham remains a cheerleader for Plymouth and you sense it is not just “estate agent” patter trying to promote a city where the company has huge interests.

He said: “It is great being back in Plymouth. Every time we come here we are amazed by the city. Taking the water taxi from the Barbican to the Yard is an amazing experience. It takes you back in history.

“This is a city which has been through some hard times. It has suffered from post-industrialism. It is also a city being revived. We can see the life coming back into the city. There is huge scope for people to move back into the city centre.”